Morel season is wrapping up early this year. General reactions are “not much better than the past three years.” Morel mushroom appearance in Wisconsin was so dependent on Dutch elm disease killing white (American) elms of all ages that when DED diminished due to the host (elm) populations diminishing, there were fewer elms and fewer places to find morels. Now the DED fungus and vector (a beetle) diminished fewer trees were less likely to die. Old apple orchards are disappearing, too. Grassland prairie morel fruiting seems to be dependent on intermittent fires. The Dutch elm disease, elm tree populations, and a morel bonanza seem to have disappeared, at least for a while.
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